How Law Enforcement Is Using Social Media (Infographic)

Law enforcement officials are using social media to solve crimes and will continue to do so in greater numbers. In an online survey conducted by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, four out of five law enforcement officials used social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to help solve crimes.

A total of 1,200 officials were canvased from all levels and ranks of law enforcement across the country via the PoliceOne.com news and training website. The findings showed that most officials are using social media, and 74 percent of non-users said they anticipated they would start using social media in their investigations.

“As a former crime analyst for the San Diego Police Department and the FBI, I understand the value social media provides in terms of crime prevention and investigation,” LexisNexis Government Solutions Consultant Samantha Gwinn said in a press release. “As officers start to secure more formal training and gain an increased comfort level in the power of social media, the value it provides will continue to rise.”

For more details about social media use in law enforcement, check out this infographic. Click on the image below to zoom in on the full image.